quote: The Baltimore Sun first reported in today's editions that Angelos is willing to make a deal. Angelos has previously resisted financial overtures from baseball, and he has told people close to him that he would take legal action against the league to keep the Expos out of Washington.
Baseball wants to make the Expos announcement by the end of the week to give the D.C. Council enough time to approve the legislation for a publicly financed, $440 million package to renovate RFK Stadium, and build a new stadium on the Anacostia waterfront. The council must act on the legislation soon to have the money for the RFK renovation, which city officials said will take at least three months.
Major League Baseball President Robert A. DuPuy is scheduled to meet with Angelos today to resume discussions on financial compensation for the Orioles. DuPuy and Angelos, who met for several hours on Friday, are expected to discuss a regional sports network that would televise both the Orioles and the Washington team's games and be owned by both franchises. Under the proposed discussions, the Orioles would receive the greater share of revenue, according to baseball sources familiar with the proposed package.
Baseball also is believed to be proposing that it will guarantee the amount of annual revenue that the Orioles earn, as well as the team's value, according to two sources familiar with the talks. Under the proposal, Major League Baseball would make up any shortfall if the Orioles' annual revenue falls below an agreed upon threshold, according to sources.
When Angelos bought the Orioles, he knew that league rules required his approval for an American League team in Washington, but not for a National League team. The Expos are in the National league.
Ignoring the fact that he can probably scare up some legal rationale (he is an amazing attorney), he has no moral rationale for doing this. He's little better than a thug extorting protection money from the league.
The thing is, the league has no reason to cave to him. Why are they letting one whiny owner keep baseball out of the largest television market without a team?
as much as I despise Angelos, he's protecting his investment. I think any of the 31 owners would make a stink about a new team moving in nearby.
Posts: 349 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Yeah, but he's acting like a spoiled brat. There's a clear rule about this, and he's trying to expand it unilaterally. I wish they'd tell him to back off and let him sue.
It's got to be cheaper than letting him mooch off a Washington team's TV rights.
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